Monday 4 May 2009 19.05 EDT
First published on Monday 4 May 2009 19.05 EDT

The British grand prix's future beyond 2009 continues to be mired in ­uncertainty despite the fact that it is ­supposedly afforded protected status on the international ­calendar as one of the most historically significant rounds of the formula one world championship.

With the race scheduled to switch from Silverstone to Donington Park in 2010, the programme to complete the ­necessary upgrades at the circuit near Derby has been thrown into doubt due to a legal ­battle over £2.4m in unpaid rent.

While Bernie Ecclestone, the ­formula one commercial rights holder, has said ­several times that the British grand prix will be lost to the calendar unless ­Donington Park is successfully ­redeveloped in time for next year's fixture, Silverstone has indicated its readiness to make itself ­available as a fall-back venue.

However such a role would depend on the circuit successfully completing its own upgrade to meet Ecclestone's ­exacting standards, allied to a readiness to pay the going rate to stage the race in the future – two factors which have been major stumbling blocks in the past.

"The FIA's deal with Bernie means he cannot present a calendar without the ­traditional grands prix," said Max ­Mosley, the president of the sport's ­governing body. "However it is not our role to insist that a grand prix takes place in a sub- standard venue. Just like people who want the World Cup or the Olympic Games have to pay the going rate, what we cannot do is to force Bernie [and the formula one teams] to race below the going rate."

Meanwhile Ecclestone has insisted he will protect the future of the ­Ferrari team after its president, Luca di ­Montezemolo, became locked in an exchange with ­Mosley over the viability of the optional £40m budget cap on offer to teams ­entering the 2010 world ­championship. Mosley said that formula one could survive quite well without Ferrari.

"I won't let it happen," said Ecclestone in response to questioning over whether he would allow Mosley to effectively drive Ferrari from the sport.

"The trouble with Luca is that you should not let Max ever be in a ­position where he can start a debate or an ­argument. He's reasonably clever and you won't win."

Ecclestone added that he thought ­Ferrari would eventually agree to the budget cap, even though they are still concerned about the two-tier regulations. "These are probably not monumental things to sort out," he said.